Businesses warned over sex laws

24/04/2008

Businesses could be left millions of pounds out of pocket as a result of key changes to laws governing sex discrimination, it has been claimed. Law firm Mace & Jones said the government had issued ‘important new regulations’ which could affect how businesses treat their staff.

Mark Hatfield, the company’s employment law partner, said new maternity leave rules will mean expectant mothers who take Additional Maternity Leave (AML) will have more rights than before.

“Common examples are employers who recover company cars at the end of Ordinary Maternity Leave (OML), those who stop private medical cover, or those who take a different approach to annual leave accrual.

“This ‘simplification’ of the law does not alter the difference in rules about the job to which the employee returns, which still vary between OML and AML,” he said.

“The government estimates this will cost employers £156 million, so it could be significant, particularly when coupled with more women taking AML with the extension of maternity pay to 39 weeks and ultimately 52.”

He added that other new laws mean ‘harassment’ now constitutes unwanted conduct associated with the victim’s gender, rather than caused by it.

“What will now be covered includes ‘jokes’ about mother-in-laws and women being poor drivers, which are clearly related to gender but may not be motivated by it.”